Raffield, 27, uses the ancient technique of steam bending, whereby newly cut wooden planks are placed in a bag and steamed at around 105C. He then creates modern, sculptural furniture and lighting, such as his Pendant light, undulating Arc chair and padded Rocking chair.

Where do you work? "In Cornwall, tucked away in a large summerhouse in Penryn, near Falmouth."

Describe the pull of the country. "My tutor at Falmouth College of Art told me I'd have to go to London when I graduated. I grew up on Exmoor and was devastated by the idea of moving away, so I decided to prove it was possible to run a contemporary design business in rural Cornwall. In 2005, I set up Sixixis with two friends and then, in 2008, went solo under my own name. I've always liked being surrounded by nature, and I'm interested in sustainability. I like to use local products (most of the wood I use comes from within 20 miles of my home) and bring money into the local economy."

How do you make yourself heard? "Mainly word of mouth. I'd say 80% of my business is online, and the rest is through stockists. Hardly anyone comes to buy from the studio, so although I'm much happier with a chisel than a computer, I couldn't live here without the internet."

What's the best thing about working here? "Starting the day in the surf."

Partners in work and life, Stephen Gillies and Kate Jones, both 43, make vibrantly coloured, decorative, hand-blown glass bowls and one-off art pieces. Gillies is a glassmaker who blows in hot glass, Jones a painter specialising in glass.

Where do you work? "From a long, redbrick studio in the village of Rosedale Abbey on the North York Moors."

Describe the pull of the country. "What we do is all about quality of life, and there's nothing finer than North Yorkshire. All our work is inspired by the local environment – we've been here for 15 years, but we're still constantly amazed by our surroundings."

How do you make yourself heard? "Technology was just beginning to change when we set up in 1995, and it didn't take much imagination to see the difference the web would make. At first the website was just a shop window – we did mail order over the phone – and then, in 2007, we set up the shopping site. It has been specially designed for a non-craft audience, so that people who regularly shop online would feel confident to buy one-off pieces. We certainly couldn't survive the winter without it, because that's when visitors stop coming to the studio. The web means we can sell all year round."

What's the best thing about working here? "Allowing the rhythm of the seasons to dictate the rhythm of our work."

Porter, 31, is an upholsterer and self-confessed "knitting freak". She specialises in covering vintage chairs (which she rebuilds using traditional horsehair upholstery techniques) in quirky, hand-knitted panels. Past designs include a Union Jack-covered nursing chair and a patch-work armchair known as Charlie.

Where do you work? "In a converted Methodist chapel in the village of Padbury, Buckinghamshire."

Describe the pull of the country. "I share a studio with my mother, who is a print artist. Being based in the country gave us the opportunity to have a fantastic space we simply couldn't afford in a city."

How do you make yourself heard? "The business was online from the start: it's a vital showroom. I communicate a lot with bloggers – once you are featured on a blog, it generates its own traffic. Nearly all my clients come to me from the website, and they often ask me to make a chair inspired by a piece they've seen."

What's the best thing about working here? "Stepping away from work into inspiring countryside to refuel at the end of the day."

Lifelong friends Denise Lewis, 45, and Caryl Terlezki, 50, are the creative forces behind this new online craft shop, launched in March. The idea is to give traditional Welsh crafts (think weaving, wood-turning and basket-making, among others) a contemporary twist.

Where do you work? "In the lovely seaside village of Aberporth in Cardigan Bay, western Wales."

Describe the pull of the country. "We live in a thriving village with the most amazing views out on to the Irish Sea. It's part of Blodwen's ethos to be part of the fabric of the community. Cardigan Bay lies in the heart of the Welsh textile industry, so we've commissioned some of the few remaining mills – including one that still uses a 150-year-old loom – to produce a collection of blankets based on traditional designs."

How do you make yourself heard? "Blodwen was set up as an internet business, and we've generated publicity through Facebook and Twitter. We were inspired by the realisation that Wales has this amazing hinterland of artisans, yet many live hand-to-mouth because so few people know about them. By putting their work online, we are providing them with an international showcase, which will contribute to rural regeneration and help ensure these traditional skills don't die out."

What's the best thing about working here? "Feeling that we have come home after being in London for so long."